Motor-starting device.



T. J. ROBERTS. MOTOR STARTING DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED NIB. 9, 1912.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

T. J. ROBERTS.

MOTOR STARTING nnvmz. APPLICATION FILED PEB.9, 1912. 1 080 482 Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

[NI/E/V/OR M UNITED STATES PATENT o-FFIoE.

. monks J. ROBERTS, or ATLANTA, enonexa to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of Teference marked thereon, which form a part of this specifica- .tion.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in motor starters anglconsists essentially in the provision of eans whereby compressed air is utilized for imparting the initial rotary movement to the crank shaft and 'drawingin a charge and exploding, thus starting the engine.

My invention consists ofa simple and efficient device of this nature having various details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts whichwill be hereinafter fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and then specifically I defined in the appended claims;

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in wh1ch Figure 1 is a central sectional view through a portion of an automobile showing the application of my invention thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the crank shaft and cylinder with piston movably mounted therein.' Fig. 3 is across sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2, and F ig.'4 is a detail in elevation of a hollow spiralshaft.

Referencenow being bad to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates, the end of a motorshaft having clutch recesses A in one end thereof, and B designates a cranking shaft to whidh the clutch member B is held by means ,of a pin B and provided with teeth adapted to engage the recesses A in the end of the motor shaft. -A cylinder, designated by letter C, has apertured ends D and E through which the crank shaft B has a slight longitudinal movement.

Loosely mounted upon the crank shaft is a hollow cylindrical member F, having contracted ends F and F 2 "which terminate respectively in the shoulders H and H, and the circumference of said cylinder F is pro- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 9, 1912 Serial 151' 0. 676,492.

. Y MOTOR-STARTING DEYICE.

vided with spiral groovesI. A piston, designated by letter J, is mounted upon said cylinder and has a, movement independent thereof and is provided with packing rings J in the circumference, and fastened tosaid piston are the keys K which engage .said spiral grooves and serving, when the piston s moved independent of the cylinder, to impart a rotary movement to the latter.

Leading into said cylinder isa compressed.

air duct L, which duct is regulated by means Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

of a valve N fixed upon one end of the stem N, which has a valve N at its other end regulating the exhaust port 0 as well as the inlet port 0. Said valve N is mounted intermediate the piston J and the head or end D and is adapted, as the piston moves to the left and comes in contact with the valve, tomove the latter to its seat about the marginal edge of the duct L, while,when

the piston moves in the opposite direction and comes in contact with a lug P upon the stem N, it will cause the valve N to close the exhaust port 0 and open the port or duct 0.

A clutch collar R is fastened to the shaft posed between the washer R. and a washer R, the latter being positioned about the collarR. A fixed bearing member R receives loosely the shaft B and a coiled spring R is interposed between the washer R" upon theshaft which abuts against the bear-' ing member R and a flange upon the col lar B, said spring serving to cause the teeth R and R3 to intermesh and to return the shaft B to its normal position after the engine has been cranked.

An air supply tank is shown and designatedby letter S and in which air compressed by any suitable mechanism is contained, and a mounted, which latter isprovided with two ,ducts S" and S, the latter of which, when in registration with'a port S, affords communication between the pipe S and the duct S and the pipe S whlch communicates with the cylinder S A second pipe S also leads from the air tank and communicates with the port 0. 'The pipe S leads to and c0nimunicates with the port L and the duct S, when pipe S leads from said tank to the cylinders in which a piston S is duct S to come into registration with the opening through which the pipe S communicates with the cylinder S thus allowing compressed air to'pass through the pipe S and the duct L where the pressure bearing against the valve N will cause the same to unseat. bearing against the piston J will cause the same to move and with it the cylinder .F a short distance. As the cylinder F moves forward, the clutch collar R will,also be moved a short distance and with it the shaft B to which it is keyed, the movement being sufficient to cause the teeth upon the clutch collar B to mesh with the teeth upon the engine shaft A. The forward movement of the cylinder F will be limited by the shoulders H coming in contact with the adjacent end of the cylinder C. A further forward movement of the piston J by the air pressure acting upon the face thereof will, by reason of' the keys K )OSltlOIlGd in the spiral grooves in the cy inder, cause the latter 'to rotate and with it the clutch collar R and, by reason of the teeth R and R being in mesh with one another, a rotary movement will be imparted to the shaft B by reason of the collar B being keyed thereto. A key J shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, engages registering grooves formed in the cylinder and circumference of the piston and serves to prevent the latter from turning as it recipro' cates. When the piston J in'its forward movement comes in contact with the lug P upon the valve stem N, longitudinal movement will be imparted to the latter, causing 'the valve N to close the exhaust O and open connection between the port 0 and the interior of the cylinder, thus allowing compressed air to be introduced into the right hand end of the cylinder to cause the piston to return to its startingposition, the supply of air which is introduced through the pipe 0 being direct from the cylinder S. Vhen the operator releases pressure upon the stem S", the spring S will return the piston S to its outer limit, throwing the duct S into communication with the exhaust S and clos- As the valve unseats, pressure taneously with the closing of the valve l l and opening of the exhaust port 0 leaving the apparatus in position for a repetition of the cranking operation.

When it is desired to crank the engine by hand, the operator by attaching a crank to the projecting end of the shaft B and engaging the pin d may cause the same to be given a slight longitudinal movement suflicient to disengage the intermeshing teeth R and R and throw the clutch B in mesh with the teeth upon the motor shaft A, thus cranking the engine in the usual manner ndependent of the piston and grooved cylinder.

What I claim to be new is 1. A starting device for motors comprising a spring-pressed cranking shaft, a cylinder. in which the same is mounted, a clutch upon said shaft, a hollow cylindrical member loosely mounted upon said shaft within said cylinder and having spiral grooves in its circumference, a piston mounted upon said cylindrical member, keys projecting from the piston and engaging said grooves, means for preventing the piston. from rotat on, automaticallyoperated valves regulating ports communicating with the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston through which ports compressed air is adapted to pass to act upon the piston, .and means for controlling the compressed air which acts upon the p1ston, as set forth.

2. A starting device for motors comprising a spring-pressed crankingshaft, a cylinder in which the same is mounted, a clutch upon said shaft, a hollow cylindrical member loosely mounted upon said shaft within said cylinder and having spiral grooves in its circumference, a piston mounted upon said cylindrical "member, keys projecting from the piston and engaging said grooves, means for preventing the piston from rotation,

valves regulating ports communicating with the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston through which ports compressed a1r is adapted to pass to act upon the plston, a

stem, connecting said valves, a projection 3. A starting device for motors compris ing a spring-pressed cranking shaft, a cylinder in which the same is mounted, a'clutch upon said shaft, a hollow cylindrical member loosely mounted upon said shaft within said cylinder and having spiral grooves in its circumference, a piston mounted upon said cylindrical member, keys projecting from the piston and engaging said grooves, a longitudinally disposed key projecting from the inner surface of the cylinder engaging a groove in the circumference Of the piston,

automatically-operated valves regulating ports communicating with, the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston through which ports compressed air is adapted to pass to act upon the piston, and means for controlling the compressed air which acts upon the piston, as set forth.

4. A starting device for motors comprising a spring-pressed cranking shaft, a cylinder in which the same is mounted a clutch upon said shaft, a hollow cylindrical member loosely mounted upon said shaft within said cylinder and having spiral grooves in its circumference, said member having a contracted portion movable through an opening in the head of the cylinder and terminating at its inner end in a shoulder, adapted to contact with the end of the cylinder to limit the longitudinal throw ofsaid member in one direction, a piston mounted upon said member, keys fixed to the piston and projecting into said spiral grooves, means for holding the piston against rotation, automatically-operated valves regulating ports communicating with the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston through which ports compressed air is adapted to pass to act upon the piston, and means for controllin the compressed air which acts upon the piston,

as set forth. a

5. A starting device for motors comprising in combination with a motor shaft a spring-pressed cranking shaft, a cylinder in which the same is mounted, a clutch upon said cranking shaft, a hollow cylindrical member loosely mounted upon said cranking shaft within said cylinder and having a contracted portion movable through an opening in one end of the cylinder, teeth upon the contracted end of said member, a toothed clutch pinned to the cranking shaft and adapted to engage the teeth upon said member, another clutch member carried by the cranking shaft and adapted to engage the In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. THOMAS J. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

J. T. CROLEY, T. J. Locnnmes, Jr. 

